UNSAFE LUBRICANTS IN SEXUAL HEALTH: A CLINICAL REVIEW OF IMPROVISED GENITAL LUBRICANTS AND SAFE MEDICAL ALTERNATIVES

Improvised genital lubricants—including petroleum jelly, household oils, lotions, soaps, and saliva—remain widely used due to cultural silence around sexual comfort, misconceptions about product safety, and limited access to medically approved alternatives. Although commonly perceived as harmless, these substances can compromise genital epithelial integrity through mechanisms such as hyperosmolar dehydration, chemical irritation, and occlusion-induced anaerobic bacterial overgrowth. Food oils and petroleum derivatives additionally degrade latex condoms, markedly increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, while saliva introduces oral microbes and viral pathogens, including HSV-1, further weakening mucosal defences. This review consolidates existing evidence on tissue injury, microbial dysbiosis, and condom incompatibility associated with improvised lubricants, and evaluates safer options—particularly iso-osmolar water-based and silicone-based formulations—based on WHO recommendations for pH, osmolality, and mucosal biocompatibility. The findings highlight the clinical importance of addressing lubricant use during sexual health consultations, normalizing conversations about genital comfort, and advocating for stronger regulatory oversight to ensure product safety. Enhancing public awareness and access to safe, medically tested lubricants is essential for preventing avoidable genital injury, reducing infection risk, and promoting overall reproductive and sexual wellbeing.